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Sunday, September 25, 2011

I'm very happy to share an excerpt with you today from Shari Lohner's debut book! Dangerous Charade sounds so good.

Dangerous Charade, by Shari Lohner

Genre:

Heat: Sensual

Buy Link:

To escape an arranged marriage Gabrielle Broussard flees her home to become an undercover investigator with an elite, all-female investigative agency.Her first assignment, as governess at Westford castle to investigate the suspicious death of the Countess of Westford, quickly becomes complicated when she finds herself attracted to her number one suspect.

Lord Julien Blackwell is a survivor.After his father’s bankruptcy, he becomes a self-made man in Victorian England’s booming industrial era.Trapped into a loveless marriage, he has survived the shock of his wife’s sudden death.But now he must survive rumors and outright accusations.Hiring a private agency to investigate and prove his innocence seems like a good idea…until desire threatens to compromise both the case and the life of the investigator.

EXCERPT:

“One-two-three... two-two-three… very good.” Julian held Gabrielle securely about the waist asthey moved across the floor in perfect unison.“You’re a surprisingly quick study.”

She nodded demurely, barely able to concentrate on whatever it was her feet were supposed to be doing. Or not doing. Dancing with Julian was proving to be even more unnerving than she had feared. Having his body but a breath away from hers was far too distracting. He was her number one murder suspect, and she needed to keep her wits about her now more than ever.

“Are you sure you’ve never waltzed before?” he asked.

“Never,” she lied.

He spun them around quickly, catching her off guard, causing her to cling to him tighter. “I believe you’re ready for Rocancourt’s ball. I no longer fear you will trip over both my feet and embarrass us silly.”

She pursed her lips. “I can assure you I would do no such thing, with or without your lessons.”

“I cannot begin to imagine, my lord.” She cursed the butterflies in her stomach. The effect he had on her when he breathed her name in that seductive drawl of his was maddening.

He leaned down so his face was beside hers and whispered in her ear. “I think you have a secret.” He felt her body tense. “Oh, yes, I’m onto your little game.”

~*~

You can pick up your copy of Dangerous Charade at The Wild Rose Press.

Visit Shari at her website:

A Bit About Shari

I live in the midwest with my wonderful husband and pretentious cat. When I'm not reading or writing, other hobbies I enjoy include hiking, biking, and chocolate and not necessarily in that order.

While I enjoy many genres, I'm particularly drawn to Victorian era romance stories that are feuled by forbidden love and quite often…murder. The foggy streets, swirling coat tails and foreboding castles make it a difficult one to resist.

I have an undergraduate degree in biology and a half-finished master's degree in business. Strange how I can't ever seem to find the time to complete the degree but I can find plenty of time to write 250+ page novels...

Thanks to Shari for sharing with us today, and I wish you the best of luck with your book and all the others I know are in your future.

Shara Brandt doesn’t know how she wound up, beaten and exhausted, on a creek bank behind a school in rural Rock Harbor. She has no idea who murdered her grandmother. What she does know is she has one chance to learn the truth about Lydia’s murder, to clear her own name, and to be safe from a past that haunts her. That chance is to live a borrowed life under the alias “Bethany Elias.”

Emotionally bruised after his ugly divorce, Bryan Jacobs doesn’t believe in trusting anyone with his heart. He certainly doesn’t trust the newcomer, Bethany. He is convinced she could be the heiress wanted for murder. Most of all, he doesn’t trust the faint stirring of something deep in his soul each time he sees her.

It is their search for truth that will bond them or shatter them, but only if they are willing to take a chance.

EXCERPT:

Her face paled.“Then you know.”

Yes, I do. I’m nobody’s fool anymore.He ran his hands through his hair. "I said, 'We don't know anything about her.'Everyone else telling me I'm crazy, that I‘m the jerk, and you‘re so innocent. Poor little Bethany Elias, running away from an abusive boyfriend. Orphaned.Wants to be a teacher but never had the money for college.”He paced in front of her, not looking at her, not seeing her. “You certainly hit all the marks with that story.”

“Bryan, wait.”

He waved his hand to stop her. “I started to believe it myself. I wanted to believe it because” he stopped, and glared at her.“You’re the one who’s engaged to…you’re wanted for murdering your own grandmother. You’re Shara Brandt." He spat the words out like bile.

"Bryan, I can explain.” Tears welled in her eyes and overflowed.

“I don’t want explanations!” He flew at her, the weight of his body pinning her against the wall."Your whole life here is a lie, an act.You used us!" You led me on.You loved Richard Bennett the whole time.

"Bryan- please!"She couldn't move. He had her pinned against the wall.

"We all trusted you! I trusted you and you lied to me.You‘re a liar just like-" He choked on his words.Jenny.

His lips were on hers, devouring, angry.She tried to pull away, but he gripped her tighter, suffocating her, bruising her. Destroy something Richard Bennett loved.He dug his fingers into her wrists.“It was very convenient that they had you declared dead.Was that a happy accident or part of your plans?” He hissed the words close to her face, close enough to feel the heat of fear radiating from her skin.

“Bryan-please.”Her words were little more than a whimper.

Her voice touched the last reasonable corner of his fevered brain. With a deep-throated curse, he ripped himself from her and pushed her away.The force was sudden, violent, and she fell to the floor.Her expression, one of wounded fear, incensed him. Don’t look at me like that, with those eyes, and lie to me more!Cat-like, he was on her, pushing her deeper into the straw

She struggled against him, weeping his name and begging him, over and over to stop, to let her go. He sealed his mouth over hers to quiet her cries and still the anguish in his own soul.He held her down with the full weight of his body, pinning her arms over her head with one hand.

Why did you have to be another liar? Why did you have to be another one of Richard Bennett’s lovers?

There was no answer to his heart’s cry.Done pleading, she lay silent under him, and Bryan paused in his onslaught.He gasped for air, staring into the face of the woman beneath him.Jenny...

“No!”She pushed him off of her with a burst of strength.“I will not take this from you!Not from you!”The force of her shove sent him slipping back to the wall.

Don’t let Jenny hurt you again.He wiped the back of his hand across his mouth.“Listen here, you little-“

“No, you listen to me!”She stood and leaned her back against the wall, keeping him directly in front of her. “My whole life, people told me what to do, where to go, who to be.”She glared at him, rage simmering in her eyes.“Under the same circumstance, you would lie, too.You’d do what you had to, if it meant saving yourself.”Panting, she wiped a drop of sweat from her face.

He stood, also panting in the heat that hung like a cloud between them.“I have always been completely honest with you.”

She slid sideways and leaned against the back door of the barn.“You know what they say about me.You don’t know the truth.” She bit her lip. “I don’t know the truth.”

“I know what I need to know.”He did not miss the flash of disappointment crossing her face when she pushed on the latch of door and found it to be locked. There’s no escaping what you did, this time.“I know you slept with him. You love him.”

She nudged the door again, this time with her foot. “What are you talking about?”

He took three steps toward her and raised himself to his full height, a clear seven inches over her head. “I’m talking about Richard Bennett.”He took one more step; close enough to see her body tremble in spite of the defiant look in her eyes.

She put her arm straight out, her hand flat against his chest. “Stay away from me, Bryan.”

“Or what?”He loomed over her.

“Bryan, please.”This final plea was weak, defeated.

“No!” He pinned her against the wall again and for a moment hovered next to her, panting. “No more!” Sweat rolled down his face to hers.The drops mingled with the tears that spilled onto her cheeks.No more lies, no more pain…

“Bryan, look at me, please. Look at me.”

In those still, soft words, Bryan blinked away the fiery image of his ex wife and found a wide-eyed Bethany.

He sealed his lips to hers again, no longer to punish, but to claim.He loosened his grip on her wrists, and she let her hands fall to rest on his waist.Her touch, her heady scent of sun warmed strawberries, softened the edges of his rage.He took hold of the nape of her neck, felt her heat and sweat.She melted to him as he buried his face in her hair.“Bethany…” He whispered her name as a prayer.My Bethany…

“Bryan…”

His name never sounded so sweet as she returned his kiss.Joy and desire flooded through him, warming his soul, frozen for so long.He kissed her again then looked into her eyes, his heart racing beyond the confines of his own body.My beautiful, beautiful Bethany.

Only-

Only she’s not Bethany.

And she will never be mine.

She belongs to Richard Bennett.

Jarred by the thought, Bryan searched her face for something, anything, to wake him from this nightmare.Everything faded and fell away, leaving only the insistent throb of want pounding through him. Again, I lose to him.

But his mouth tasted bitter and his skin burned as if touching something hot. How could you have done this to me…to us?

Not willing to do battle against a passion that could only ruin him, Bryan pushed himself away from the wall, still grasping her wrists."Get away from me!”With one final, furious gesture, he pushed her to the floor and left the barn.Once outside in the scorching sunlight, he slammed the rolling door shut and snapped the padlock closed. Spinning on his heals, he ran back to his Jeep.Once in the drivers’ seat, he jerked the car into gear and tore backwards down the drive, leaving his property is a cloud of gray brown dust.

~*~

A Personal note to readers from Sarah:

Every author has a story that haunts them and stays with them for their lives. Is the the story of our hearts. "Lies in Chance" is mine. I started writing this story when I was 13. Obviously Shara's storyline has grown up as I have, but the characters of Drew, Molly, and Bryan have not changed since the first day I put a piece of paper in my old Royal manual typewriter and decided to write. Fans of the TV show "Emergency" will recognize similarities in those friendships.

As for the name "Shara" I have a story behind that. I was sort of searching for a name for my main character, knowing that using my own name would not do. I have had a lifelong problem with people misspelling my name. The summer I was 15, a chaperone on a summer band bus asked me my name. I said, "Sarah, with an H." She wrote "Shara" and my character's name was born.

More about Sarah:

Sarah is a lifelong Upper Midwest girl who lives with her college sweetheart husband, her two teen aged children, and her three rescue cats in Waukesha, Wisconsin.When not writing or volunteering at her church, Sarah cheers for the Green Bay Packers, plays trivia games on the radio, and attends Rick Springfield concerts.Sarah’s been writing since she was thirteen…when she started work on what is now “Lies in Chance.”

Her next projects are a romantic suspense novel, “Fresh Ice,” and creative nonfiction collection, “Scenes from an Awkward Childhood,” a collection of stories from her own life, such as the stories she shares in her popular blog:www.itcanonlyhappensarah.blogspot.com

There you have it...and if you think this one sounds good...you should also check out Sarah's book Dream In Color--it's a great read! Thanks to Sarah for sharing with us today, and don't forget to comment for your chance to win a copy of Lies In Chance!

Sunday, September 11, 2011

So glad to have you here today, Lisa, and Happy Birthday! I sure hope you have something fun and totally self-indulgent planned.

I have to tell you, I read Atlantis on my Nook this past week and it was SO good! I bought my copy awhile back, but for the month of September, you can get Atlantis FREE! Run, don't walk, and get your copy! (Link and coupon code at the bottome)

Atlantis, by Lisa Graves

Young Adult Paranormal Romance

Rating: Sensual

What would you do if you were convinced your boyfriend was a figment of your imagination? That is Lilly’s problem.

EXCERPT:

My eyes looked at the ground. I didn’t want to, but I made myself say it. “You’re not real.”

Elliott was quiet. I looked up to see what he was doing. He continued to sit on the grass but he looked shocked. “What do you mean by that?” I noticed a cautious tone in his voice.

I dove into my brain trying to find the right words to use when breaking up with yourself. I came up empty handed. The fact that I desperately wanted to stay and live in my fantasy land didn’t make it any easier. My torrent stream of emotions was giving me away. I bit my lip, trying to keep my face from exposing all of my secrets. Strangely, he did the same.

“What do you mean, I’m not real?” Elliott asked again. He gently placed his hand on mine. The usual sensation of electricity flowing through him to me, pricked my mind and made me doubt my hallucination theory. He wasn’t helping me.

It was probably a combination of my emotions keeping me an inch from tears, and his penetrating eyes bearing down on my soul, but I had overflowed. I couldn’t stop the words from pouring out.

“YOU ARE NOT REAL!” I yelled, more at myself than at Elliott.

I stood up. His mouth gapped open at me as I paced the cove and continued.

“You are too perfect. And good looking. And sweet...”

He looked as though he was going to argue, but I went on.

“No one has seen you but me.”

He whispered something to himself and shook his head.

“You appear and disappear out of nowhere.”

I turned again at the edge of the cove, racking my brain for more proof of my theory. When I resumed my pacing, he spoke.

“I know,” he said in a soft, apologetic purr and looked straight at me.

Elliott caught me off guard. I hadn’t expected my hallucination to agree with me. “What do you mean you know?"

~*~

Atlantis is a Young Adult Paranormal Romance and good news, Lisa is currently working on the sequel. I can't wait!

Sunday, September 4, 2011

Welcome to Sunday Share, Mimi, and thank you so much for sharing two copies of Together Again.

That's right, everyone, Mimi's giving away TWO copies this week, so make sure you leave a comment. I've read the first two books in this series and though it was awhile ago, I distinctly remember enjoying them very much. Judging by the excerpt, this book sounds just as good!

Traveling forward in time, Dani Howard's spirit becomes magically united with reporter Troy Brennan. He's everything a girl could want in a man, and during their time together, she falls deeply in love. Though she must return to her own pregnant body, she gains his promise to come to her birthday party in seven days time where they will meet in person and continue their romance. Except that for her it’s 10 years.

Troy can't believe he's fallen for a sixteen-year-old spirit invader. He's so infatuated that when renowned author, beautiful Ellie Ward, comes on to him, as attractive as he finds her, he's honor bound to stay true to his young love—or is he? And why does she seem so darn familiar?

The general store, filled with clothes for younger men, proved to be exactly what Troy wanted. He grabbed a pair of stylish bell-bottomed jeans and a black T-shirt from the overflowing racks and made his way towards one of the changing rooms. As soon as he opened the curtain and saw the mirrored wall he stopped.

“Hold it! Are you still there?” His voice warned of his seriousness. It was a rougher, no-nonsense tone—one she recognized from when he’d used it on the bullying blokes yesterday.

“Uh-huh! Where else would I be?”

“Don’t be cheeky! You can see right now, can’t you?”

“Of course I can. I see out of your eyes, don’t I?”

“Right! Fine.” He closed his eyes, continued into the change room, and stumbled when he stubbed his toe on the wooden chair.

“What in the world are you doing?”

“You’re only sixteen. You shouldn’t be seeing a man undress.” He hadn’t had to worry about her spying in his room, for there wasn’t a full-length mirror. He’d taken care never to look at anything she shouldn’t be seeing. Not an easy task but doable.

“Number one. Just ‘will’ me to leave and you’ll feel me shut down, because I’d respect your privacy. And number two, yours wouldn’t be the first male body I’ve seen anyway.”

“Number one, how about just shutting up instead of shutting down. And number two, what the hel—heck do you mean by not the first male— No, wait. I don’t want to know.”

“At least let me see you after you’re dressed. It’s very difficult carrying on conversations with someone you can only see from the inside.”

“What does it matter?”

“What if I told you I have a crush on you and I want to see what you look like, especially in your knickers?”

The tight jeans were only halfway up. Vertigo and embarrassment collided, engulfing him at the same time.His knee bashed against the chair and his forehead hit the wall. Muffled swear words and babbles that made no sense, except that the surly meanings were explicit, rang out before he spoke to her again.

“Stop that!” He sounded angry.

“Stop what?”

Was she giggling? “Stop saying things like that. You don’t have a crush on me. You don’t even know me.”

“I know you’re extremely kind, that you care about small children and animals, take on burdens even when you don’t want to, and—and you’re ambitious. You have a wonderful, warm chuckle, and—”

“And I’m almost thirty. Besides, you should be with a nice guy your own age.”

“I already have.”

“What?” Troy’s eyes popped open — wide, very wide.

****

“Ohh! You’re a smasher, you are.”

He stared into the mirror as if he could see into the soul hidden inside him. The ferocious look on his face warned her not to say another word. Instead she silently continued to view his features. His piercing, multifaceted eyes, brown and green, gold and gorgeous, were daunting.

MIMI BARBOUR- Author of THE VICARAGE BENCH SERIES lives in Qualicum Beach and writes her paranormal romances with tongue in cheek and a mad glint in her eye. "If I can steal a booklover’s attention away from their every-day grind, absorb them into a fantasy love story, and make them care about the ending, then I’ve done my job.”

Four years of Children’s Literature courses and a Creative Writing course has helped her to reach some of her goals

The newest book in her series TOGETHER AGAIN was released on May 13, 2011 and the next in the series “Together for Christmas” will be released November 25th.

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